Mole-trap.



M. W. RUSSELL.

MOLE TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY4,1915.

1,165,209. Y Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

MANNING. W. RUSSELL, OF KEATCI-IIE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF vT VIIEtGrII.v IVI. RICH, 0F KEATCHIE, LOUISIANA.

lVIOIiE-TRAP.

Application led May 4, 1915.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MANNING W. RussELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keatchie, in the parish of De Soto and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mole- Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description sprung by the mole in passing through the run.

Another object of the invention is to improve the trigger construction illustrated in my Patent, No. 1,135,052, and dated April 13, 1915. In the patent referred to, the trigger was operated by a cord or string eX- tending across between the set jaws of the trap, and the trigger construction of the present application is regarded as more reliable in operation, and also insures that the mole shall be fully within the jaws of the trap before they are sprung.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the trap set and placed in the run of the mole, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the trap in set condition, Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the operation of the triggers after one of said triggers hasbeen operated by the mole, Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the positions as shown by the parts when the second trigger member has been operated by the mole, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ends of the jaw member in set condition, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view at the point of crossing of the two jaw members, looking in the direction of arro-w 6 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a plurality of coils formed in a single strand of spring wire of the desired gage, and eXtending from opposite sides of the coil 1 are the curved arms 2. VThe arms Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 21,1915.

Serial No. 25,738.

2 cross at the point 3, and are continued to form the curved jaw members 4t of the trap. At the ends of the jaw members 4, one of said members is provided with a recess 5, or a portion of the member at the end is removed and provided with a shoulder, while the end of the other member is rounded off as at (i, so that when the two members are brought together as shown in Fig. 5,.the jaws of the trap will remain separated but can be easily sprung apart to close on a mole passing through a run.

Pivotally connected at 7 are two trigger members 8 and 9, each of said trigger members being bent outward from the jaw members 4, as shown at 10 and at the opposite free ends of the members 8 and 9 are fingers 11 and l2.

Connected to one of the members 2 of the trap is a spring bent around the member 2 as 13, extended along the member 2 as shown at 14 and provided with a pluralit;7 of coils 15, which are connected to the opposite member of the trap as shown at 16. From this point, the spring is bent to pass over the jaw members at or near the point of crossing as shown at 17. rI`he spring is extended and provided with an angular finger 18.

l/Vhen the trap is set, and the two ends of the jaw members are engaged as shown in Fig. 5, the finger 1S will rest on top of one of the jaw members as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Should a mole pass through the run and engage the member 8 and raise it slightly, the shoulder 19 of the member S will push the linger 18 off the member 4t of the trap to rest upon the extended portion 20 of the member 9, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing. lVhen the mole continues through the run and raises the member 9, the finger 18 will snap through into the opening 21, and the springs 1 7 will then eXert pressure upon the jaw member at the point of crossing and separate the ends of the jaw members to spring the trap.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when a mole is coming in either direction, the trap will not spring until both of the members S and 9 have been raised to admit the finger 18 in the recess 21 of the member 9.

Various changes may be made in the details of, construction Without departing from l the spirit and scope of the invention as de# iined in the claims.

wrWhat is claimed is l. A mole trap comprising a single length of spring Wire having a coil and extended members crossing each other and formed into jaws, the ends of said jaw members adapted to engage to set the trap,t\vo trigger members pivoted to one of the jaw members and extending across and beyond the other member, and a spring Wire connected to one of the members and having a finger,

said finger being moved by the trigger mem-A bers to operate the spring jaws 'to spring the trap.

2. A mole trap made from a single length of spring wire and provided with 'a vCoil, oppositely extending portions, crossed one upon the other and provided with curved trap jaws, trigger membersV pivoted to one of the jaws and extending beyond the other, saidtrigger members one having a shoulider, and the other a recess, and a spring connected to one of the members of the trap of spring Wire provided vwith cross members andv curved jaws, one of said jaws having a recess to receive the end of the other jaw to set the trap, trigger members pivoted to one ofthe jaw members and extending beyond the other, vsaid triggerv members being provided one`vvith a shoulder and the other with an 'extended portion and recess and a spring connected to one oi' the members and. bearing against the other, said spring having a iinger to be operated by the shoulder of one of the trigger members and to pass into the recess of the other member to spring the trap.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of twol Witnesses.` Y

MANNI'NG vv RUSSELL. i

Witnesses:

F. O. SPIEKER, A. PERICONE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained 'for ve cents each, by addressing' the Commissionercf Patents,

AWashingtomC, v Y i 

